PillarSoft

The plugin page allows you to select files from your archive that will do two things.

You can:

• Write a cmd file that can be processed while the install program is running.
• Have the installer show a text file (maybe a readme.txt or a license) to the user.

If it is important for you to display your license agreement before installation be sure to use the word "License" in the name of the file. If the installer loads any file with "License" in it's name it will show an "Accept" or "Do not accept" button. The installer will automatically close and clean up if the "Do not accept" button is pressed. I am not sure of all the legalities but would think that this would confirm the entrance of a contract between you and your user since he cannot use the software without going around the installation.

Any other file (a readme.txt etc) will be loaded normally when using the text window and will only show a "Close" button.

Plugin selection

The listbox carries the file listing that you are using for the archive. To select a file and assign it for the installer you need to:

• Highlight the file you wish to use/display
  • Click the button that refers to how you want it used

After clicking the button, the filename will appear above the button that refers to it.

To make it a bit more flexible, you can choose whether to have it process these files at the start of the installation or at the end. The "PRE" type files will always show or run immediately after your bitmap has finished sliding onto the splash page. The "POST" type files will run after all the installer processing has finished and the program is ready to close and clean up.

While the possibilities and usage of the text files will be obvious to most of you, the cmd files may need a bit more explanation. Suffice it to say that it lends you as much power during the installation as Rexx provides in OS/2 and that is darn near limitless. You might, for example want to:

• Create directories
  • Jockey files around
  • Add information to the os2.ini file
  • Make adjustments to your program ini files
  • Get system information
  • Show the user a messagebox with info

You decide what you want to do and the installer will execute it. The sample supplied with this program shows a simple messagebox just to show you how and at what time in the installation it works. You will probably not want to be so intrusive with your plugins. You can (and probably "should") have them run without the user even realizing that it is even there.

Like the setup strings, the variable "InstDir" is available to be used in your plugin to help find the installation directory for any work you may need to do. The "InstDir" variable is always without the trailing slash.

<Color Scheme

SFX Installer

Finish>